Clasp foe files oe weappees



(No Model.)

W. H. BELL. vCLASP FOR FILES 0R WRAPPBRS.

No. 460,066. Patented Sept. 22, 1891.

Mass as:

J??? 5M QWQ WMM U ITED STATES ILLIAM H. BELL, OF 'ASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR PATENT OFFICE.

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE L. CLARK, OF

SAME PLACE.

CLASP FOR FILES OR WRAPPERS.,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,066, dated September 22, 1891.

Application filed April 16, 1891. Serial No, 389,126. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Files or Wrappers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates, generally, to fastening or clasping devices for bundles, parcels, or packages, and particularly to clasps or fasteners for conveniently securing bands or straps around files or wrappers containing folded papers and the like for easily and quickly inspecting, adding to, or removing from the contents of said files or wrappers, and also for readily adjusting them in accordance with the variations in bulk or size of their contents; and it consists in the peculiarities of construction and arrangement or combination of parts, hereinafter fully disclosed in the description, drawings, and claims.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a clasp or fastener which is novel, simple, and strong in construction, easy to operate, and comparatively cheap to manufacture; second, to so construct and combine said clasp or fastener with a band or strap as will permit of their quick and easy application to and removal from a file or wrapper and at the same time avoid the delay and trouble incident to tying the same with a piece of cord or tape, and also the objection incident to the employment of a rubber band, which, as is well known, after being applied or in use for a short period of time loses its elasticity and breaks, and, third, to so construct and combine said fastener and strap with a file or wrapper that said strap will 0perate with considerable pressure or binding action upon both the outside of said wrapper and directly upon its contents, the tendency of the latter to expand or spring assisting in this effect, all as will hereinafter appear. These objects are accomplished by the construction and combination of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which the same reference-numerals indicate the same parts, and in which Figure 1 represents detail top plan views of my improved clasp or fastener as it respectively appears when it is first cut or stamped out and is then formed into proper shape or condition for use; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the bent portion or loop of said fastener on the line cc :0 of Fig. 1, and also of the spring catch or holder for the free or loose portion of the band or strap; Fig. 3, a front perspective view of the strap, fastener, and holder in the condition they appear when placed upon a wrapper or other object before said strap is fastened; Fig. 4:, a side or edge perspective view of the same parts as they appear when in an adjusted or fastened condition, and Fig. 5 a transverse section of a loose file or wrapper with said parts attached thereto and in condition for operation.

In the drawings, the numerals 1, 2, and 3 respectively indicate the front and rear ends and body of the clasp or fastener 4, which is made of a single piece of sheet or platemetal which is first cut or stamped out by dies or other suitable means, and formed with the transverse slot 5 at its front end, with the laterally-projecting jaw 6, having the points or sharp teeth '7 on its front edge, the upwardly-curved lip S on its side edge, and with the sharp prongs 9 on its ends and sides. The jaw 6 is next bent to overlap and extend nearly across the body 3 of the fastener 4, and is also forced down sufficiently toward said body to form the laterally-open loop 10, within and from which the band or strap 11 can be easily and quickly inserted and removed. The upwardly-curved lip 8 on the side edge of this jaw materially assists to this end, even when said jaw becomes accidentally depressed or indented and partially closes said loop 10.

The band or strap 11, which is preferably, but not necessarily, made of textile material, is suitably secured at one end within the transverse slot 5 of the fastener at. It is then passed forwardly and beneath the wrapper or other object to be secured and around to a point near said slot. It is then pulled to the desired or a suificient degree of tightness, passed into the laterally-open loop 10, and moved rearwardly against the points or sharp teeth 7, which enter or take hold of and secure it at the point to which it has been moved or drawn, and then, or finally, the loose or free end thereof is moved farther rearwardly and passed into the movable spring catch or holder 12, which consists of a narrow strip of metal that is passed once around said strap and terminated exteriorly of the same in the laterally-extending jaw 13, which is formed with the upwardly-curved lip 14 for effecting the same result as the lip 8 on the side edge of the jaw 6 of the fastener 4. The parts or features of this catch or holder are also arranged to form a laterally-open loop 15, within and from which the strap can also be readily inserted and removed; but the entrance to or the opening of this loop is arranged at the other edge of said strap or opposite to the opening of the loop 10 of the fastener 4, whereby said strap is not only prevented from accidental edgewise movement in either direction, but is held in firm engagement with the points or sharp teeth 7 of said fastener.

In the application of my improvements to or in their combination with wrappers containing folded or other ofiicial papers and the like, which is the main object or purpose of my invention, I prefer. to employ a wrapper which is not closed or sealed along its edges, but one in which the edges are loose, one of the same normally overlapping the other to a considerable extent, whereby said wrapper can be readily enlarged or contracted to accord with the variations in the bulk or size of its contents. To this end the loose wrapper 16 is formed with two slots 17, which are arranged opposite to each other and at a suitable distance apart, and which preferably are surrounded by suitable re-enforcing strips 18, which are secured to the inner surface of said wrapper. At points near one of these slots the sharp-pointed prongs 9 of the fastener 4, which have previously been bent downwardly or backwardly to a point at right angles to the body 3 of said fastener, are first forced through the wall of the file and the corresponding re-enforcing strip 18, when the latter is employed, and are then bent down l'latwise upon the inner surface thereof, the

result being that said fastener is tightly secured to said wrapper. The strap 11, with one end previously secured in the slot 5 of the fastener, is then introduced by its other end into the adjacent slot 17 in said wrapper, carried over a portion of the interior thereof, and finally passed out through the opposite slot therein. Then the spring catch or holder 12 is applied to the strap 11 at a suitable point along its free or loose portion and outside of said wrapper, after'which the parts are in condition for operation or use, as above described. In order to release or open the file or wrapper it is only necessary to slip the free or loose portion of the strap out of the laterally -open loop of the spring .catch or holder, then to draw said strap forwardly for releasing it from contact with the points or sharp teethof the fastener, and then to slip said strap out of the laterally-open loop of said fastener.

The manner of using or operating and the construction of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description; but it may be further stated that the sharppointed prongs upon the ends and sides of the fastener will be unnecessary when the latter is not to be attached to a wrapper or the like, but is only to be used in connection with a band or strap for fastening a parcel or package of any of the various kinds commonly employed. Hence for purposes of the nature last mentioned the prongs may be wholly omitted from the fasteners in their manufacture, or they may be made as features of said fasteners, as at present, and then be bent down fiatwise upon the rear surfaces of the bodies of said fasteners; also, as is obvious, my invention is capable of advantageous employment in connection with various parts of harness and as a fastener for shawl-straps, neckties, and the like.

Having thus fully described my invention, the manner of its use or operation, its capabilities and advantages, what I claim as new 1. In combination with the binding-strap, a clasp or fastener formed with a transverse slot at thefront end of the body thereof,in which said strap is secured, and with an overlapping jaw at the rear end thereof, which is provided with a series of points or sharp teeth on its front edge and arranged in connection with said body to form a laterally-open loop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with the binding-strap, a clasp or fastener formed with a transverse slot at the front end of the body thereof, in which said strap is secured, and with an overlapping jaw at the rear end thereof, which is pr?)- vided with a series of points or sharp teeth on its front edge, with an upwardly-curved lip on its side edge, and arranged in connection with said body to form a laterally-open loop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with the binding-strap, a clasp or fastener formed with a transverse slot at the front end of the body thereof, in which said strap is secured, with sharp prongs on its ends and sides, and with an overlapping jaw at the rear end thereof, which is provided with a series of points or sharp teeth on its front edge with an upwardly-curved lip on its side edge, and arranged in connection with said body to form a laterally-open loop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. In combination with a binding-strap and fastener, a catch or holder formed of a strip of spring metal, which is shaped to pass around and closely fit a band or strap which is 6Xt6* riorly terminated in a laterally-extending jaw having an upwardly-curved lip, and which is arranged to form a laterally-open loop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, with a band or strap IIO clasp or fastener formed with a transverse slot at the front end of the body thereof and with an overlapping jaw at the rear end thereof, which is provided with a series of points or sharp teeth-on its front edge, with an up wardly-curved lip on its side edge, and arranged in connection with said body to form a laterally-open loop, a spring catch or holder which is passed once around the bindingstrap and terminated exteriorly of the same in a laterally-extending jaw which is formed with an upwardly-curved lip and arranged to form a laterally-open loop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A clasp or fastener formed with a transverse slot at the front end of the body thereof and with an overlapping jaw at the rear end thereof, which is provided with a series of points or sharp teeth on its front edge, with an upwardly-curved lip on its side edge and arranged in connection with said body to form a laterally-open loop, in combination with a band or strap and a spring catch or holder which is passed once around said strap and terminated exteriorly of the same in a laterally-extending jaw which is formed with an upwardly-curved lip and arranged to form a laterally-open loop, the loops of said fastener and bolder being arranged with their openings over the opposite edges of said strap, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. Aclasp or fastener formed with a transverse slot at the front end of the body thereof, with sharp prongs on its ends and sides and with an overlapping jaw at the rear end thereof, which is provided with a series of points or sharp teeth on its front edge, with an upwardly-curved lip on its side edge and arranged in connection with said body to form a laterally-open loop, in combination with a band or strap and a spring catch or holder which is passed once around said strap and terminated exteriorly of the same in a laterally-extending jaw which is formed with an upwardly-curved lip and arranged to form a laterally-open loop, the loops of said fastener and holder being arranged with their openings over the opposite edges of said strap, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In combination with the binding-strap, a fastener having one end slotted and attached to the strap and having alaterally-open loop with teeth on the front edge thereof and a wrapper carried by the strap, having loose edges, substantially as described.

10. In combination with the binding-strap, a fastener attached thereto having a laterallyopen loop with teeth, and the wrapper having loose edges and slots through which the strap passes, substantially as described.

11. In combination, the binding-strap, the fastener therefor having a laterally-open loop with teeth, the wrapper having loose edges and re-enforced slots through which the binding-strap passes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of. two witnesses.

IVILLIAM H. BELL.

WVitnesses:

TOM R. STUART, PARKER H. SWEET, Jr. 

